bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Oscar Liu

More than 47,000 registered Hong Kong taxi drivers have adopted the commercial version of the Octopus app or equipped their cabs with mobile card readers ahead of new electronic payment regulations taking effect on Wednesday, transport authorities have said.
The new measures require cab drivers to provide at least two e-payment options, as part of a broader government push to modernise the industry’s image and service quality.
The Transport Department on Tuesday said the three dedicated service stations at government car parks in Sheung Wan, Kwai Fong and Tsuen Wan would remain open until Saturday to provide last-minute support.
It said more than 3,000 cabbies had already booked appointments to ensure compliance with the regulations.
Chau Kwok-keung, chairman of the Hong Kong Taxi and Public Light Bus Association, said that cabbies were ready to step into the new era of embracing digital payments.
“The association has been working tirelessly to train elderly drivers in digital payment systems,” he said.
“For those owners and drivers who have already installed ‘all-in-one’ smart meters, we provided intensive hands-on instruction during the set-up process, and I am confident the vast majority now know how to operate them.”
The all-in-one smart meters allow passengers to tap to pay without drivers having to manually input fares, a feature designed to assist elderly cabbies who may struggle with new technology.

Chau added that about 6,000 smart meters developed by fintech firm Wonder, which supports 34 payment methods, alongside similar solutions from Dash, had already been installed in taxis across the city.
According to department figures, Hong Kong has 18,000 taxis and about 46,000 active drivers, with nearly two-thirds of those cabbies aged 60 or older.
The new regulations require taxi drivers to offer at least one QR code-based platform – such as AlipayHK, WeChat Pay HK, or BoC Pay – alongside a non-scanning alternative, which can include Octopus, credit cards or the Faster Payment System, better known as FPS.
Those who fail to comply with the measures face a HK$5,000 (US$640) fine and up to six months’ imprisonment.
The Transport Department on Tuesday added that more than 47,000 registered taxi drivers had installed the commercial version of the Octopus app or equipped their vehicles with its mobile point-of-service (POS) system.
The department said its team had begun setting up information boards at major taxi ranks across the city to bolster publicity, while service ambassadors had also been deployed to brief drivers and passengers on the new regulations.
“Passengers are encouraged to check for stickers on taxi windows or to ask drivers about their accepted e-payment methods before boarding,” the department said.
It noted that more than 2,000 drivers had taken part in over 20 workshops at community halls and 11 outreach events at taxi ranks that introduced cabbies to electronic payment operations and offered help with registration.
Meanwhile, AlipayHK earlier said that 90 per cent of the city’s cabbies had adopted its platform, alongside the mainland Chinese version of the app and other partner wallets, allowing passengers to settle fares by scanning AlipayHK or Alipay+ QR codes, as well as using Octopus mobile POS devices.
The platform also allows passengers to book rides via the Amap or DiDi apps.
AlipayHK is a joint venture of Ant Group, an affiliate of Alibaba Group Holding, which also operates the navigation app Amap and owns the South China Morning Post.


Over 47,000 cabbies adopt Octopus, card readers ahead of e-payment regulations

BMI a starting point, not whole story, of Hong Kong’s weight management plan

Hong Kong passengers caught off guard by new airport limit of 2 power banks

Hong Kong airport caps power banks to 2 per passenger in line with global rule

Hong Kong transport

An industry leader has said Hong Kong cabbies are embracing the digital payment era. Photo: Jelly Tse

The new regulations take effect on Wednesday. Photo: Jelly Tse

Plan for full taxi access to Discovery Bay sparks anger among residents

Taxi access in Discovery Bay is currently restricted to the north of the development. Photo: Roy Issa

Urban taxis and Lantau ones will be allowed to enter Discovery Bay under the proposal. Photo: Sam Tsang

E-payments to attract more riders, cut fare disputes: Hong Kong taxi industry

About 90 per cent of taxi drivers are ready to meet the April 1 requirement. Photo: Jelly Tse

Ryan Wong says e-payments will reduce disputes over fares. Photo: Jelly Tse

News

Hong Kong

Transport

New measures require taxi drivers to provide at least two e-payment options, as part of broader government push to modernise industry image


New measures require taxi drivers to provide at least two e-payment options, as part of broader government push to modernise industry image.


Over 47,000 cabbies adopt Octopus, card readers ahead of e-payment regulations

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}New measures require taxi drivers to provide at least two e-payment options, as part of broader government push to modernise industry image

New measures require taxi drivers to provide at least two e-payment options, as part of broader government push to modernise industry image